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Title: Spice Up Your Website Design with the Powerful Astra WordPress Theme
Welcome to the latest installment in our WordPress for Beginners blog series! Today, we're exploring Astra, a versatile and performance-focused WordPress theme created by the development team at Brainstorm Force. As one of the leading WordPress themes in a saturated marketplace, Astra distinguishes itself by providing advanced features that cater to both novices and experienced developers.
For your consideration, this theme is available in both Free and (Pro) upgraded flavors. For transparency's sake, we have never used the free version, so the following insights reflect the features consistent with the premium offering. I do know, however, that both versions work seamlessly with popular third-party page builders and that combining the free theme with other non-native builders is commonplace.
Speaking of: What Astra is not?
Site Builder? Yes. Page Builder? No. Astra's Site Builder (that we'll cover later) empowers users with advanced tools to customize various elements. It does not, however, provide drag-and-drop editing for individual page structures like Elementor or Beaver Builder. A theme manages overall site aesthetics, while page builders like Gutenberg or Brizy allow precise content placement and styling. Astra works best when paired with one of these builders.
Alternatively, if you are interested in a more single-source approach, you should take a moment to learn more about the Divi Page Builder and Theme by Elegant Themes.
As we find ourselves somewhat afield, it is also worth mentioning that beyond the Astra theme, Brainstorm Force offers additional tools that further enhance the WordPress experience, catering to varying design and development needs. Before we veer back on course, here's a brief look at two key offerings:
- Spectra One Block Theme - A modern, block-based WordPress theme crafted to expand on the Gutenberg editor's capabilities. Spectra One allows users to create dynamic and visually appealing layouts, making it a top choice for those looking to embrace full-site editing in WordPress.
- Plugins, Addons, and Tools - Brainstorm Force has developed several powerful plugins that work perfectly with their themes. Notable among these is the Ultimate Addons for Elementor, which extends the popular Elementor page builder with a slew of custom widgets, modules, and templates, enabling users to build complex websites without any coding.
These additional tools showcase Brainstorm Force's dedication to providing comprehensive, user-friendly solutions for WordPress users from all verticals. With that said, join us now as we explore some of the remarkable functionalities that make Astra a game-changer in the WordPress website design space.
The Astra Theme Has Some Great Features
Maximizing Performance with Astra
Vis-a-vis website performance, Astra sets itself apart with a laser focus on speed and efficiency.
For example:
- Unlike many WordPress themes, Astra eliminates the reliance on jQuery in favor of lightweight Vanilla JavaScript. This strategic choice minimizes render-blocking scripts and ensures pages load quickly. When used without additional content, Astra's bare theme can load in under half a second; on more typical demo or content-rich sites, load times tend to hover around one second.
A further marker of this performance-based mindset is through font loading settings. End-users can load fonts locally, reducing external requests and improving site efficiency.
- Local Font Loading – Stores font files on the server, cutting down on external HTTP requests.
- Non-Local Font Loading – Fonts get fetched from third-party services like Google Fonts, which may introduce slight delays.
While this setting may not make a dramatic difference in speed, every optimization contributes to a smoother browsing experience—because when it comes to web performance, every scintilla counts.
The verdict is that with this theme, you can build a site that looks great and runs efficiently, delivering the fast, responsive experience modern users demand.
Design Freedom at Your Fingertips
Astra offers more than additional design options—it provides a comprehensive suite of tools that lets you control nearly every part of your site. Whether building a personal blog or a dynamic business site, Astra helps you simplify the design process without limiting your creativity.
Site Builder Tools
- Visual Site Design – Enhance WordPress Customization with advanced tools built into the Appearance > Customize panel.
- Customizable Sections:
- Headers
- Footers
- Posts & Pages
- Archives & 404 Pages
- Unified Interface – Use one centralized dashboard to manage your entire layout.
- Device Visibility Controls – Show or hide elements based on screen size.
- User Role Layouts – Personalize what different users see.
- Dynamic Display Conditions – Show specific layouts based on user behavior or conditions.
Header & Footer Builder
- Drag-and-Drop Interface – Easily design your headers and footers without coding.
- Professional Layouts – Build structured navigation with visual and interactive elements.
- Built-in Features:
- Language switchers
- Toggle buttons
- Widgets and social links
- Visual dividers
Advanced Header Features
- Sticky Header – Keep navigation accessible as users scroll.
- Transparent Header – Great for hero sections or bold visuals.
Effortless Customization
Designing with Astra doesn't require that much technical skill. Its layout engine is intuitive and responsive, offering a fluid user experience from start to finish.
- Drag, Drop, and Build – Build visually with no extra complexity.
- Real-time Preview – See design updates as you make them.
- Unlimited Design Possibilities – Adjust layout widths, spacing, and global styles.
- Responsive Layouts – Optimized for all screen sizes.
- Fast Customizations – Edit designs quickly and efficiently.
- No Coding Required – Astra simplifies the building experience.
Colors & Typography
Brand consistency is easy to manage with Astra's global style tools.
- Global Color Palette – Update brand colors site-wide.
- Easy Customization – Change design elements without digging through layers.
- Typography Presets – Choose from pre-designed font combinations.
- Extensive Font Library – Access Google Fonts and upload your own.
- Responsive Typography – Fonts automatically adjust to screen size.
- Live Preview – Make and view changes instantly.
Blog Layout Options
Astra provides structured layouts for different types of content presentation.
- Grid Layout – For that clean, crisp, and organized look.
- Masonry Layout – Ideal for visual-heavy blogs.
- List Layout – Simplifies readability. Perfect for displaying copy.
- Blog Structure Control – Adjust metadata, excerpts, and featured images.
- Highlight First Post & Date Box – Improve navigation and scanning.
Mega Menu & Navigation Enhancements
- Multi-Column Menus – Clearly structure and organize content.
- Custom Content Addition – Add videos, icons, and widgets inside menus.
- Styling Customization – Tweak colors, fonts, and spacing for brand alignment.
- Responsive & Mobile-Friendly – Menus work seamlessly on all devices.
Astra's design flexibility means you can start with a strong visual foundation and refine it as you grow. Moreover, the development team strikes a tangible balance between control and simplicity, giving you the tools to build confidently.
Harmonious Integration with WooCommerce
For digital storefronts, Astra provides seamless integration with WooCommerce, the leading eCommerce platform for WordPress. With Astra, you can effortlessly build and customize your online store, leveraging its intuitive design options to create a shopping experience that drives conversions and delights customers. From customizable product grids to off-canvas sidebars, Astra offers many features tailored specifically for e-commerce, ensuring that your online store stands out.
Astra's WooCommerce integration goes beyond surface-level compatibility. It offers thoughtful features designed to improve the browsing and buying experience, particularly for users on mobile or limited bandwidth.
WooCommerce Shop Features
- Customizable Product Grids – Control column layout, spacing, and alignment.
- Infinite Scroll – Automatically load more products for smoother navigation.
- Off-Canvas Sidebar – Create filter menus that slide out, an ideal feature for mobile devices.
- Quick View – Let users preview products in a pop-up without leaving the current page.
- Gallery Options – Include zoomable images, sliders, and lightboxes for a better product showcase.
- Modern Cart Experience – Minimalist design with enhanced usability.
- Cross-Sells & Dropdown Cart – Encourage upselling and simplify the checkout path.
These features provide a refined storefront experience that's user-friendly and functional. Astra's approach focuses on making your products easy to discover, evaluate, and purchase.
Unleashing the Potential of Astra Widgets
Astra provides a range of widgets to enhance form and function across your site. These widgets allow you to integrate interactive and informative elements into your layout without requiring custom code or third-party plugins.
Astra Theme Widgets Include:
- Business Address Widget – Display your business location in a clean and formatted block.
- Social Media Icons Widget – Add social links using popular icon styles.
- Contact Info Widget – Neatly displays phone numbers, emails, or office hours.
- Custom Sidebar Widgets – Insert personalized content or calls-to-action in sidebars.
- Call-to-Action Widget – Use banners or buttons to drive engagement.
- Pricing Table Widget – Present service or product tiers in a structured format.
- Testimonials Widget – Feature client quotes in a styled, consistent layout.
- Navigation Menu Widget – Add secondary menus anywhere on your site.
- Featured Image Widget – Dynamically pull featured images into new areas.
- Recent Posts Widget – Show recent blog posts with featured images and summaries.
These practical widgets are easy to configure and blend effortlessly into your theme's design, giving you more ways to connect with your audience and communicate key information.
Harnessing the Power of Astra Support
Something we love is that at the heart of Astra is a commitment to customer satisfaction and support. With a dedicated team available 24/7, the Brainstorm Force team ensures you never feel alone in your website design journey. Whether you need help troubleshooting a technical issue or guidance on maximizing the theme features, their dedicated support team is ready to assist you with clarity and care. Additionally, the website provides resources, including video tutorials and in-depth articles, to help you harness Astra's potential and take your website design skills to new heights.
No, no, no: Switching from a Block Theme (2023) to Astra with Elementor
A client had their website built using Elementor alongside the native 2023 WordPress theme, which operates under Full Site Editing (FSE). However, they liked the blog layout options of the Astra theme, and over time, they decided to switch. Unfortunately, they assumed that since the theme plays well with Elementor, activating the new theme would be a breeze. The short of it is switching over didn't work, and we got a new client.
Upon activating Astra, the client quickly realized that their site's global styles, template settings, and layout structures no longer functioned as expected. Because the 2023 theme is block-based, its customization options rely on Gutenberg's built-in full-site editing tools. On the other hand, Astra is a classic theme, meaning global styling gets implemented through the Customizer rather than block-based templates. As a result, elements like headers, footers, and certain theme-dependent blocks required manual adjustments.
Block vs. Classic Theme Differences: Why This Happens
1. Full Site Editing vs. Customizer-Based Editing
- 2023 Theme (Block-Based) – Uses Full Site Editing (FSE), meaning headers, footers, and templates are managed (primarily) within Gutenberg's block editor. While FSE shifts much of the customization process into the block editor, some themes retain traditional customization options alongside block-based controls.
- Astra (Classic Theme) – Uses Customizer-Based Editing (WordPress Appearance > Customize), requiring users to set global styles separately from the block editor.
2. Template System Changes
- Block Themes (like 2023) allow users to edit templates directly within WordPress's block editor.
- Classic Themes (like Astra) use traditional template files and rely on additional theme settings rather than inline editing.
3. Page Builder Interactions Differ
- With Block Themes – Elementor remains compatible but does not fully integrate with Gutenberg's block-based architecture. While the page builder functions independently, select theme-specific settings—such as global styles and template structures—may require manual adjustments when switching between block and classic themes.
- With Astra – The Elementor page builder functions smoothly, but users may need to adjust theme-specific settings through the Customizer beyond addressing global styles.
Key Takeaways Before Switching
- Expect to reconfigure headers, footers, and layout settings as you move from a block-based theme to a classic one.
- Some theme-specific styles may not carry over, but WordPress core block styles generally remain unaffected.
- Page builders like Elementor will continue working, but users may need to reapply design elements to ensure consistency.
Switching themes between block-based and classic architectures requires careful planning. Astra is an exceptionally flexible theme that operates differently than WordPress's native block themes.
Astra's powerful design options give you complete control over your site's layout, from customizable headers and footers to dedicated sidebars. With Astra, you can create a stunning website that performs flawlessly, driving results for your business.
Avoiding Common Missteps When Using Astra
While Astra offers a high level of flexibility, there are a few things to be mindful of when planning and executing your site design. Being aware of some nuances can help you avoid inefficiencies or unexpected roadblocks.
Be mindful of the following:
- Over-customization – Too many layout or typography adjustments can lead to design inconsistency.
- Plugin Compatibility – Although Astra supports many popular plugins, double-check for conflicts when using niche or lesser-known addons.
- Header/Footer Overload – Deploying many elements in the header or footer can clutter the experience.
- Mobile Testing – Always preview on different devices to ensure elements get rendered as expected.
- Global Settings Confusion – Astra offers deep global styling; make sure changes apply where you intend them to.
When working with the theme's many controls, it's best to take a structured approach to design. Start with a simple style guide or wireframe. For example, try to match the theme elements to your desired outcome rather than applying features randomly. Following this principle will help keep your site both functional and visually cohesive.
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